Public Service Broadcasting Day or Jan Prasaran Diwas is annually observed across India on 12 November to commemorate the first and only visit of Mahatma Gandhi to the studio of the then All India Radio (AIR) (now Akashvani ) in Delhi, in 1947.
Background:
i.On 17th November 1947, Mahatma Gandhi visited the AIR Studios at Broadcasting House, New Delhi, Delhi to address the refugees (from Pakistan) who were camped in Kurukshetra, Haryana following the partition.
ii.To commemorate 50 years of this visit of Mahatma Gandhi to AIR, a function was organised at AIR premises on 12th November 1997.
iii.Later in 2001, the day, “12th November”, was declared Public Service Broadcasting Day.
- The observance was conceptualised by Suhas Borker, Convenor, Jan Prasar.
All India Radio (AIR):
i.All India Radio(AIR) is a Public Service Broadcaster of India and the Radio vertical of Prasar Bharati.
ii.AIR’s home service comprises 479 stations today located across India, reaching nearly 92% of the country’s area and 99.19% of the total population.
- AIR originates programming in 23 languages and 179 dialects.
Key Points:
i.Annually, a snippet of the speech by Mahatma Gandhi is played on 12th November as a mark of respect and tribute to him.
ii.A function was organised at the premises of Akashvani Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi to mark the occasion.
About All India Radio (AIR):
Akashvani Mysore (Karnataka), a private radio station, was set up in September 1935. On June 8, 1936, the Indian State Broadcasting Service transformed into AIR.
Director General – Dr. Vasudha Gupta
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
